MPD arrests repeat copper burglary suspect 

Madison police arrested a man last Wednesday following a series of copper thefts from construction sites in the Midtown District since early May, according to a police incident report.

Police worked with one of the repeat victims of the crime, who contacted them after being alerted to the suspect’s presence inside a University Avenue construction site. Upon arrival, MPD patrol officers found Brad Richard Wells, 62, holding a spool of copper wire. 

Officers captured Wells as he fled the scene of the crime. He was detained at the Dane County Jail on tentative charges of four counts of burglary of a dwelling as a repeater, felony theft as a repeater, four counts of misdemeanor theft as a repeater, and 12 counts of misdemeanor bail jumping.